This is
a civil action involving claims for damages based upon the
injuries allegedly sustained by Cedric Batiste and Shereda
Batiste (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) on May 26,
2017 in East Baton Rouge Parish when Plaintiffs' 2007
Jeep Liberty was allegedly struck on the passenger side by an
18-wheeler driven by an unknown driver and owned by Defendant
Jose Cortez, d/b/a Jose's Transport.[1] On or about May
18, 2018, Plaintiffs filed their Petition for Damages
(“Petition”) against John Doe (the unknown
driver), Jose Cortez, d/b/a Joe's Transport
(“Cortez”), Joe's Transport, and Canal
Insurance Company (“Canal”) (collectively,
“Defendants”) in the Nineteenth Judicial District
Court for the Parish of East Baton Rouge.[2] On July 11, 2018,
Defendants Cortez and Canal removed this matter to this Court
asserting that this Court has diversity jurisdiction under 28
U.S.C. § 1332.[3]

The
Notice of Removal makes the following allegations regarding
the citizenship of the parties:

5.

John Doe is a fictitious name and not a proper party to the
subject lawsuit. Claimants did not request service on him.

6.

Claimant, Cedric Batiste, is a resident and citizen of the
State of Louisiana.

7.

Claimant, Shereda Batiste, is a resident and citizen of the
State of Louisiana.

8.

Defendant, Canal Insurance Company, is a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the state of South
Carolina having its principal place of business in the state
of South Carolina. Therefore, Canal Insurance Company is a
citizen of the State of South Carolina.

9.

Defendant, Jose Cortez d/b/a Joe's Transport is a
resident and citizen of ...

Our website includes the first part of the main text of the court's opinion.
To read the entire case, you must purchase the decision for download. With purchase,
you also receive any available docket numbers, case citations or footnotes, dissents
and concurrences that accompany the decision.
Docket numbers and/or citations allow you to research a case further or to use a case in a
legal proceeding. Footnotes (if any) include details of the court's decision. If the document contains a simple affirmation or denial without discussion,
there may not be additional text.

Buy This Entire Record For
$7.95

Download the entire decision to receive the complete text, official citation,
docket number, dissents and concurrences, and footnotes for this case.